This blog will catalog my interpretation of the Shobogenzo. The Shobogenzo is a very important work written by Master Dogen. I will be using the Nishijima/Cross translation of the text, which can be purchased at Amazon or Wisdom Books.
To give you a brief history about my experience with Buddhist studies, I've been practicing Soto Zen for three years. If you don't already know, Soto is the sect that our beloved Master Dogen founded about 800 years ago. I have been sitting nearly every day since I started practicing. Most of my practice has heavily focused on sitting, but I have done some reading. With respect to the Pali canon, I've read both the Majjhima Nikaya and the Samyutta Nikaya. As far as Mahayana sutras go, I've read the Lankavatara Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Cutter Sutra, Vimalkirti Sutra, and the extremely succinct Heart Sutra. I've also read an equal amount of other texts - mostly pop-Buddhist books by Thich Nhat Hahn or the Dalai Lama, but some classics like Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamikakarika or The Platform Sutra of Hui Neng.
I started my practice at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, where I received Zaike Tokudo from Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston, Roshi. My dharma name is Butsu'in, or 仏印, which means "Buddha seal" and refers to the posture a human exhibits during the practice of zazen. After practicing in Atlanta and reading a lot, I decided to live as a monk at Antai-ji for three months in 2008. Since then, I re-situated myself as a lay person and currently practice with Dogen Sangha Los Angeles, led by Brad Warner.
So, that is my background. I'd just like to lay it out so that you know where I'm coming from. I'm not some random person picking up the Shobogenzo. (Actually, I already read 1/4 of it a while ago.) However, I am certainly no expert. I am not a priest. I am not a scholar. I am simply a motivated lay practitioner.
I am currently working my way through the Lotus sutra for the third time. I feel this sutra is incredibly important to Dogen. In Nishijima's translation, he constantly references the Lotus sutra in his commentary. I recommend to anyone who picks up the Shobogenzo to read the Lotus Sutra first, if nothing else. So, hold tight while I brush the dust off of that one. After I'm finished with that, I will embark on my quest. Plan to hear back in less than a couple of weeks. I don't know how frequently I will be able to write, but each post will be devoted to one fascicle, and they will be done in order. (Nishijima's translation is organized chronologically.)
If Nishijima-roshi is so kind, I will even be posting quotes from his text to analyze in detail.
Stay tuned!
To give you a brief history about my experience with Buddhist studies, I've been practicing Soto Zen for three years. If you don't already know, Soto is the sect that our beloved Master Dogen founded about 800 years ago. I have been sitting nearly every day since I started practicing. Most of my practice has heavily focused on sitting, but I have done some reading. With respect to the Pali canon, I've read both the Majjhima Nikaya and the Samyutta Nikaya. As far as Mahayana sutras go, I've read the Lankavatara Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Cutter Sutra, Vimalkirti Sutra, and the extremely succinct Heart Sutra. I've also read an equal amount of other texts - mostly pop-Buddhist books by Thich Nhat Hahn or the Dalai Lama, but some classics like Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamikakarika or The Platform Sutra of Hui Neng.
I started my practice at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, where I received Zaike Tokudo from Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston, Roshi. My dharma name is Butsu'in, or 仏印, which means "Buddha seal" and refers to the posture a human exhibits during the practice of zazen. After practicing in Atlanta and reading a lot, I decided to live as a monk at Antai-ji for three months in 2008. Since then, I re-situated myself as a lay person and currently practice with Dogen Sangha Los Angeles, led by Brad Warner.
So, that is my background. I'd just like to lay it out so that you know where I'm coming from. I'm not some random person picking up the Shobogenzo. (Actually, I already read 1/4 of it a while ago.) However, I am certainly no expert. I am not a priest. I am not a scholar. I am simply a motivated lay practitioner.
I am currently working my way through the Lotus sutra for the third time. I feel this sutra is incredibly important to Dogen. In Nishijima's translation, he constantly references the Lotus sutra in his commentary. I recommend to anyone who picks up the Shobogenzo to read the Lotus Sutra first, if nothing else. So, hold tight while I brush the dust off of that one. After I'm finished with that, I will embark on my quest. Plan to hear back in less than a couple of weeks. I don't know how frequently I will be able to write, but each post will be devoted to one fascicle, and they will be done in order. (Nishijima's translation is organized chronologically.)
If Nishijima-roshi is so kind, I will even be posting quotes from his text to analyze in detail.
Stay tuned!
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